This is the Day! (Psalm 118:22–25) Resurrection isn’t an event, it’s a reality. May our lives be a ‘yes’ to the question, ‘Has Jesus risen from the dead?’ And may we come to see – may we come to understand that we are the good news. Our lives are the gospel of resurrection!

The seven lampstands which John saw in his first vision are revealed to be seven churches to whom John will now write (see Revelation 1:20) on behalf of Jesus. These letters ground the revelation of Jesus firmly in the life of the church! This is not Jesus in the abstract, it is Jesus revealed in and through his work in and his words to his churches. No individual church is held up as the paradigm for believers everywhere. It is in the seven churches, the larger constellation of congregations, that Christ and his work is more fully revealed.

In the letters we get a description of the churches through Jesus’ eyes. The things important to Jesus are revealed in these letters. So let’s read between to find out what it is that interests/concerns Jesus.

The opening vision the Book of Revelation reminds us that this book is not a road map of the end-times. We don’t need a schematic or timeline, we need a fresh vision of the Son of Man who is present and at work in the church!

Lesson Two of our "God's BIG Story" teaching series. The trajectory of God’s BIG story is one of unfolding creation! There will be plenty of subplots as this marvelous drama unfolds but the trajectory of unfolding creation must not be subordinated to any of the various subplots that develop later in the drama. The overall trajectory to which all actors must adhere is that of unfolding creation. Redemption is a piece (a very important and crucial piece no less) but the story didn’t begin with redemption, the story begins with creation (a purpose never rescinded)...

It’s not controversial to say that the Book Revelation has often been a controversial book. Speaking about the many ways that Revelation has been read over the last two-thousand years, New Testament scholar Warren Carter writes, that the book of Revelation, "has frequently been used as a weapon against opponents. It has been used to ‘scare the hell out of people and people out of hell.’” Today we begin our new study series in the hope of taking a fresh look at the final book in the New Testament. Join us for a glorious exploration of John's vision of Jesus Christ!

In our text today, the Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that our decision to follow Jesus is something that we choose to do regardless of what others may believe or do. Don't get bogged down in arguments. Make your choice and carry on. Have you made a commitment to follow Jesus?

Human life is story-formed (that is to say it is shaped by some story). The question is this, according to which story will we live? Life decisions are shaped and ordered by our sense of how they fit within a larger story or tradition. I can only answer the question, “What am I to do?” if I first answer the question, “In what story do I find myself?” Join us for this exciting series exploring God's BIG story!

Today’s scriptural passage reminds us that while God’s presence has indeed come near to us, we need to live with anticipation if we are to enjoy the fulness of God’s blessing upon our lives. It’s time for us to take responsibility for the atmosphere of our own lives. Let’s decide today that we will live out this new year with a spirit of anticipation.